My 4 Bore shotgun

The situation in the UK is a little different in that the birds from estate shoots are sold to restaurants. The restaurant industry is perhaps understandably not keen on lead-shot game. The argument that lead comes from the ground and later shot falls back to the ground doesn't hold much relevance to the posh diner.
 
There use to be a self made expert on lead killing off the eagles where I live and every year just before hunting season she would get on her band wagon and preach how using lead bullets was the cause.Funny thing though the Eagle population was growing not declining but there she was on the news telling of the evils of lead bullets used on deer etc and everyone was eating up the hype.Then she died of an illness and poof all was forgotten and it’s not a news item anymore.Thats the problem of today all it takes is a little air time on the news by one self made expert and people panic.
 
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Lead is really only toxic when it is in dust form or corrodes or when it’s at its boiling point.

The argument here is a bullet that is in a game animal or passes through goes into the environment. Quite a silly argument as I doubt 2 bullets would land in the same place.
 
Marmite said:
That's beside the point. Lead pipes dont distribute lead ( toxic compound) into the environment. How its gone in the UK was through the back door,laws were ammended to forbid the release of lead. Much like anyone who would pour a gallon of mercury down a storm drain on mainstream would expect to be punished.
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Tell that to the people of flint Michigan 🤣. Funny about the uk they still use a lot of lead in their roofs.
 
The thing about lead water pipes is that over a long period of time the pipes break down bit by bit by erosion and is ingested by the public How do I know,I worked for a Water /Waste water Utility until retiring.Every year the Utility replaced the lead pipes when found as th e budget allowed.
Also in the old days lead based pewter drinking tankards were common and the acidity ate into the pewter giving the drinker a little of lead with each drink.Like they say drinking can kill ya LOL
 
barbarossa said:
The thing about lead water pipes is that over a long period of time the pipes break down bit by bit by erosion and is ingested by the public How do I know,I worked for a Water /Waste water Utility until retiring.Every year the Utility replaced the lead pipes when found as th e budget allowed.
Also in the old days lead based pewter drinking tankards were common and the acidity ate into the pewter giving the drinker a little of lead with each drink.Like they say drinking can kill ya LOL
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Idk about else where but the city of Windsor is only replacing the pipe to “their” property line in this case it’s is about where the sewer clean out is. Measured distance from city if the road it’s only “their” property when it’s convenient we still have to shovel our sidewalks and the city’s sidewalks infront of the house we’re responsible for the 100 plus year old sewer lines to the road ect.

Anyway back on topic big bore guns. This is something I been wanting myself for a while mainly has a fun toy to bring out and shoot now and again. I don’t see much purpose in hunting with it way too much hot for small game buck would definitely be something for deer lots of pellets in that pattern. Not much for shotgun hunting here in Essex unless you do the controlled hunt for deer or head north.
 
Here are a couple of pictures of my big bores just to keep the thread going

First picture is a 4 bore shotgun for 4 inch case and the barrel is 42 1/2 inches long and by the proof marks made between 1885 to 1887 gun is marked D Wales
Second gun is a flintlock 75 cal gun, it is a English gun but many of this type were used by the boers again 42 1/2 barrel with a very heavy butt stock so they could be loaded from horse back. The smooth bore barrel is heavy with a flat rib on top. Gun only fires on set trigger for a saftey

Third gun is a single 4 bore percussion gun with a 1.05 bore, gun is marked M Cadle but inside the lock it is marked I Hollis who likely made the gun and sold by Cadle

On second picture there is a double 8 bore percussion shotgun sold by Tyron in Philadelphia but was made in Birmingham by the proof marks

Next is a Double 8 bore rifle using 3 1/2 case and the bore is .845 so for brass cases 26 inch barrels and weights in at 16 pounds

The next gun is a 8 bore rifle sold by Bortha in Capetown and again made in England, I beleive by WW Greener as the lock inside is marked WWG thsi gun is light only about 9 pounds and with a. 810 ball and 4 drams of 2F powder it is a hand full
 

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WR1894 said:
Here are a couple of pictures of my big bores just to keep the thread going

First picture is a 4 bore shotgun for 4 inch case and the barrel is 42 1/2 inches long and by the proof marks made between 1885 to 1887 gun is marked D Wales
Second gun is a flintlock 75 cal gun, it is a English gun but many of this type were used by the boers again 42 1/2 barrel with a very heavy butt stock so they could be loaded from horse back. The smooth bore barrel is heavy with a flat rib on top. Gun only fires on set trigger for a saftey

Third gun is a single 4 bore percussion gun with a 1.05 bore, gun is marked M Cadle but inside the lock it is marked I Hollis who likely made the gun and sold by Cadle

On second picture there is a double 8 bore percussion shotgun sold by Tyron in Philadelphia but was made in Birmingham by the proof marks

Next is a Double 8 bore rifle using 3 1/2 case and the bore is .845 so for brass cases 26 inch barrels and weights in at 16 pounds

The next gun is a 8 bore rifle sold by Bortha in Capetown and again made in England, I beleive by WW Greener as the lock inside is marked WWG thsi gun is light only about 9 pounds and with a. 810 ball and 4 drams of 2F powder it is a hand full
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I could only wish. With the laws the way they are it sure limits what can be bought and sold a 8 bore rifle was definitely at the top of my wants list. Might have to settle for a 12 bore Sxs rifle.
 
Yes these are all antiques, are 12 bores considered big bores I will dig up some pictures of a couple of rifles. Many years of wheeling and dealing to get these with a lot of luck and good friends
 
According to the antique regulations, 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410 shotguns do not have antique status even if pre '98.
 
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